Cluster lamp-socket.



R. B. BENJAMIN.

CLUSTER LAMP SOCKET.

APPLIOATION FILED DEO. 28, 1907.

Patented .111111111911 llllllll 1 R. B. BENJAMIN.

CLUSTER LAMP SOCKET. APPLIOATIOH FILED 11110. sa, v1907.

980,912. Pnentea Jan.10,1911.

1 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2'.

'AW/34' i s #Ermes cn.. wsxmarorl. n. r.

El., l.

B. B.'BENJAMIN. CLUSTER LAMP SOCKET.

l APPLICATION FILED DEU. 28, 1v907. 980,912. Patented Jal; 10,l 1911.

a al asuma-anus, 75' l 4 7 'g3 -wir l? R. B. BENJAMIN.. CLUSTER LAMP sommi'.A

APPLICATION FILED DEO. 28, 1907.

980,912. Y Patented Jan. 10,1911.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REUBENWB. BENJAMIN, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

CLUSTER LAMP-SOCKET.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REUBEN B. BENJAMIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cluster Lamp Sockets, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part. of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in cluster lamp sockets, the object of the invention being to provide a device of this class which is so constructed that it may be readily changed to adapt it to carry any desired number ot' lamps within its capacity.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a bottom plan view ot a device embodying my invention, a portion of the casing thereof being broken away to expose to view some of the interior construction; Fig. 2 is a diametrical sectional view of this form of the device, the section being taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. l, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the device provided with a centrally disposed lamp; Fig. t is a bottom plan view of the base, the casing and one of the contact plates being removed; Fig. 5 is an end elevational View of one of the threaded lamp-receivers; Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the same; Fig. 6a is a sectional view of a Contact plate employed in this form of the device; Fig. 7 is a partial sectional view of the base and some of the parts carried thereby, showing a modification in the means for securing the threaded shells in place; Fig. 8 is a partial inverted plan view of the form shown in Fig. 7; Fig. 9 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a modiied form of the device; Fig. 10 is an inverted plan view of the base, the casing and some of the parts being omitted; Fig. 11 is an inverted plan view of a contact plate employed in this form of the device; Fig. 12 is across sectional view of the contact plate shown in Fig. 11, the section being taken on the line 12-12 of Fig. l1, looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 13 is a sectional view of the same part, the section being taken on the line 13-13 of Fig. 11, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; Fig. 14 is an elevational view of a detail; Fig. 15 is a partial sectional view of a further modified form of the device; Fig. 16 is Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 28, 1907.

Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

serial No. 408,407.

a plan view of the form of the device shown in Fig. 15, the back-plate and insulating partition being removed; Fig. 17 is an end view of the form of threaded shell employed in this form of the device; Fig. 18 is a side elevational view of the same; Fig. 19 is a partial sectional View, taken on the line 19-19 of Fig. 16, showing a detaill of construction; Fig. 20 is a partial sectional view on the line 20-20 of Fig. 16, showing a detail of construction; Fig. 21 is an elevational detail view showing the method of securing the body of the device to the back-plate; and Fig. 22 is a partial sectional view showing still further modifications.

Referring lirst to the form of the device shown in Figs. l to 6a inclusive, 23 is an insulating base formed of porcelain or similar material secured to a back-plate 24 by means of screws 25. This back-plate 24 is provided with a threaded neck 26 for the reception of the threaded end of a pipe or similar supporting means. It desired the leads may be brought down through this pipe, or they may be brought through suitable openings 27 in the back-plate. The base 23 is of general truncated cone form and carries a ring-contact member 28 which extends around the base and serves as the center lamp terminal engaging member for all of the circularly-arranged sockets. This ring 28 is held in place on the base by means of a pair of inturned and upturned lugs 29 formed thereon, these lugs extending through suitable openings 30 provided therefor and having their ends bent over to prevent. their being withdrawn from these openings.

The present invention consists in the means which I employ for securing the lamp-holders in place, this means being adapted to provide for the disposition of the circularly-arranged lamps at any points around the base made necessary by the number of lamps to be used. By the use of such a construction it is made possible to change, when desired, the number of lamps which the device may receive, by simply substituting for the casing another casing having a different numberv of lamp-receiving openings and changing the number of threaded shells employed. The means by which I am enabled to thus vary the number of lamps will now be described in detail.

I-Ieretofore the sockets have sometimes been firmly secured to a stationary member carried by the base. In other constructions they have been secured to the casing and have been removable therewith. In a device made up in accordance with my present invention there is employed a plate 3l of inverted dish form, this plate having, in the forms of the invention shown in Figs. l to 6a inclusive, an outturned and upturnedY edge 32. Each of the threaded lamp-receiving' rings 33 is provided with a lateral extension 34- adapted to rest in the groove formed between the sides of the dished plate 3l and vthe edge 32 thereof, and with a projection which rests in a groove 35n in the lower side of the portion of the base having the greatest diameter. As the groove 35 extends continuously7 around the base, and as the groove of the dished plate 3l is also circular, it is evident that the sockets may be disposed at any desired positions around the base. The plate 3l is held in position by a pair of bolts 3G, 3G which extend through suitable apertures in the base. lVhcn it is desired to remove or insert a socket, these screws may be backed out to permit the plate 31 to be separated slightly from the lower side of the base. The plate 3l is provided with a suitable binding screw 37 carried by a lug 38 which extends inwardly and upwardly and occupies a recess 3S) in the base. The annular contact plate 28, which engages the center terminals of thelamps,has also a binding screw 4() carried by a lug 4l which occupies a recess 42 in the base. Suitable openings 43 and 44 are provided extending through the base, th'rough which are carried the leads to the binding screws. An interiorly threaded insulating bushing 45 is screwed on to each of the threaded shells 33, these bushings being` inserted through the lamp-receiving openings in the casing 4G, thereby securing this casing in place with its upper edge surrounding the base at 47.

Means are provided whereby, when desired, a centrally disposed lamp socket may be had as shown in Fig. 3. The plate 3l is provided with a. downwardly extending tongue 48 provided with an opening 49 for the reception of the extension 34 of the threaded shell 33. The opposite extension on this threaded shell is secured by means of a screw 50 passing through a suitable opening 5l provided for that purpose in the extension and screwing into a suitable lug 52 formed on the plate 3l. This center' lamp-holder may be readily added or removed as desired, and when present will carry an interiorly threaded bushing 53 similar to the bushings 45. The mechanical support for theY center lamp-holder above described, afliords also electrical communication between this lamp-holder and the binding screw 37 which is connected with all of the other threaded shells. The center lampterminal-engaging contact member for the centrally-disposed socket consists of a thimble 54 secured in place by a bolt 55 and hav ing a lateral extension 5G carrying a binding-screw 57 disposed in a recess 58. An opening 59 is provided in the base close to the binding-screw 57 through which a lead may pass to this binding-screw. The center contact of the central lamp being separately wired, the centrally disposed lamp may, by the provision of suitable switching means, be controlled independently of the circularlyarranged lamps.

In the modifica-tion shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the means for securing the cireularly-arranged socket shells in place comprises a dished plate G0, similar in general form to the plate 3l hereinbefore described but made of lighter material and radially slitted at 6l, (3l to permit the plate to yield as the sockets are inserted into place. In this form of the device, because of the resilient charw acter of this dished plate 60, it is not necessary, when inserting or removing' a socket, to back out the screws which hold the plate in place. To facilitate the insertion of the socket shells in place the edge of the plate 60 is formed with a cam surface (32 with which the extension 34 engages when the shell is thrust into place. As the edge of the plate is yieldable it will spring in when the socket is thus thrust into place, thus permitting the extension 34 to pass over into the groove and occupy this groove as in the form of device hereinbefore described. In this form of the device the means for supporting the centrally-disposed lamp-holder, when such is to be employed, consists of a bridge-plate 63 between which and the base the dished plate 60 is clamped by means of screws (34, (34 which take into suitably threaded openings in the bridge-plate. This bridge-plate G3 is provided with a downwardly extending lug (i5 perforated similarly to the lug 48 of the hereinbefore described form of the device and for the saine purpose. The bridge-plate has also an oppositely-disposed downwardly extending lug (3G having an outturned end provided with a screw (57 having the same function as the screw 40 of the hereinbefore described form. This bridge-plate is offset at 68 to escape the center contact 54 and carries a binding-screw G9 for making connectionl between a lead and the socket shells. The lug which carries this binding-screw occupies a recess 70 in the base, access being af forded to the binding-screw through a notch 7l in the dished plate 60.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Figs. 9 to 14 inclusive the dished plate 7 EZ is given a different form from' that of the corresponding plate 3l of the preferred foral of the device. This dished plate 72, instead of having an upturned edge to form a groove for the reception of the extensions of the 3 0 three sockets are used slots a, c and (Z will be employed or slots b, c and f. lf four shells are used the slots c, c and l will be used. Tf the device is to carry tive lamps the slots d, g, L and c will be employed. lf the device 1s to carry six lamps, (L, c, (l, e and f will be employed. The capacity of the device herein shown is six lamps, but it is-evident that if desired a device adapted to carry a greater number of lamps could be constructed, and suitable spacing of the slots would provide for the accommodation of the required number of sockets. In this form of the device the continuous groove in the base for the reception of the upper extensions of the sockets is dispensed with and in place ,tends thereof there is provided a plate 7st having a series of slots 75 corresponding in number and position with the slots of the dished plate T2. The plate T4 is annular and exaround the tapered part of the base7 being secured in place by screws 75, 75u. I have illustrated herein the shells as provided with a different form of means for securing the same to the supporting plates from that shown in the preferred form, this means comprising, instead of integral wings, a ring 7G which extends around the inner edge of the shell and is securedthereto by soldering` or otherwise. This ring has an outward crimp TT atone point therearound, and diametrically opposite this crimp 77 the meeting` ends of the wire of which the ring is formed are turned outwardly to forni an extension TS. lVhen the sockets are to be se- Cured in place the screws 79, which hold the dished plate 72 in place, are backed out sufliciently to permit the crimp 77 to be passed through one of the openings in the plate 74 and the extension TS to be passed through the corresponding opening in the dished plate T). Then the required number of lamp-receivers have been put in place the screws 7 9 will be turned in to draw the dished plate up in contact with the bottom of the base. The

casing e6, in this form of the device, is held in place by means of threaded bushings 45 screwed on to the threaded shells, as in the preferred form. Tf desired, a central lamp may be employed in this form of the device,

the socket for its recept-ion being held in place in substantially the same manner as in the preferred form, the crimp 77 and extension 78 on the wire ring 76 serving the same purpose as the extensions 34 and 35 of the sockets in the preferred form.

In the form of the device shown in Figs. l5 to Q1 inclusive the insulating member which carries the contacts is not secured t0 the back plate, but is carried by the casing, the latter being itself secured to the back plate. In this form of the device provision is made for connecting the ends of the leads with the contacts by means of binding-screws disposed upon the rear or inner side of the l insulating block, these binding-screws being accessible when the body of the device is detached from the back-plate. In this form of the device it is not necessary, when the leads are to be connected, to take out the insulating bushings and remove the casing as is the case with the hereinbefore describ-ed forms of the device. As the casing, lampholders, contacts etc., are secured to each other and form a unitary structure and may be remo-ved together from the back-plate, the ad\'fantage of ready connection is afforded. ln this form of the device the backplate1 8O is provided with downturned integral lugs 80a, preferably three in number, having each an outturned toe 81. The casing 82 is provided with three corresponding inwardly-projecting elongated humps or beads S3 under which, when the casing` is secured to the back-plate, the toes 8l engage, thev weight of the body of the device and lamps carried thereby being supported by these beads resting upon the toes 8l. The beads SB are given a slight pitch, as clearly shown in Fig. 2l, and after the casing is put into place a slight rotation imparted thereto will carry the beads around over the toes 8l and the device will be supported thereby. Secured to the upper side of the insulating block 84 by means of screws 85 is a plate 86, preferably metallic, provided with perforaticns arranged near its outer edge, substantially the same as the slots in the plate T4 illustrated in Fig. l0 and for the salne purpose. base 84 is a dished plate 8T. This plate 87 is provided with elongated perforations near its outer edge similar to those of the dished V)late T2 illustrated in Fig. ll. The plate ST is held in place by a pair of screws 88 and S9 which extend through the plate and a bridgel piece 90. This bridge-piece 90 sustains the centrally disposed lamp socket as in the hereinbefore described forms of the device. The screw S9 extends upwardly into a plate 89a which carries a binding-screw 90a by means of which connection is made between one of the leads and all of the sleeve contacts in the cluster. Extending around the base is an annular center contact member 91, similar to the corresponding member in the other forms of the device, except that the binding-screw for connection of a lead therewith is accessible from the upper or inner side of the base instead of from the lower side as in the other forms. This construction Secured to the lower side of the Y is illustrated in Fig. 20, wherein a lug 91a extends into a recess 92 in the base and carries the binding-screw 98. The centrally-disposed lamp is separately controllable, being provided with an indepeudently-wired center contact consisting of a screw 94 extending upwardly into a plate 95 carrying a binding-screw 96 accessible from the upper side of the base, the plate 95 and bindingscrew 9G lying` in a suitable depression in the base provided for that purpose. In Figs. 17 and 18 I have illustrated the form of socket shell which I employ with this form of the device, this socket shell having short projections 9T and 98. These projections 97 and 9S occupy the slots in the plates 8G and 87. This form of socket is equally well adapted for use in the central position., and when so used a screw 99, passed through the perforation in the lug` 9S and taking into a threaded opening in the lug on the bridge-plate 90, will prevent this centrally-disposed socket from beingl displaced. In this form ot' the device, when the threaded bushings are inserted through the casing and screwed on to the threaded shells, the insulating bloc and all ot the parts carried thereby are secured firmly to the casing, this whole construction forming a unitary structure removable or detachable with relation to the back-plate.

In the form shown in Fig. 22 the plate SG of Fig. 15 is dispensed with and the insulatingl block is extended upwardly and provided with an annular groove 100 adapted tor the reception of the lugs 98 oit the socket shells.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a cluster lamp socket, an insulating base having a recess formed therein, a contact member mounted on said base for engaging one of the terminals of a lamp, a second contact member carried by said base, a lamp receiving shell being formed so that the shell may be gripped between the recess ot the base and said second-named contact member, anda casing having an opening t'or receiving said shell.

Q. In a cluster lamp socket, an insulating base having a recess formed therein, a contact member mounted thereon for engaging the center contacts of a plurality of lamps, a plurality of threaded shells, a second contact member, said second named Contact member and said lamp receiving shells being t'ormed so that the shells may be gripped between the recess of the base and said second-named Contact, and a easing having lamp receiving openings corresponding in number to the number of shells employed.

3. In a cluster fixture; an insulating member; threaded shells; contact members mounted upon said insulating member; one ot' said contact members being disposed to engage the center terminals of a variable number of lamps, the other of said contact members being adapted to support a variable number ot said threaded shells; said shells, said insulating member, and said second-named contact member having interengaging parts for connecting the same t0- gether g a casing having openings corresponding in number to the number of shells employed; and means for connecting said casing with said shells and thereby supporting said casing in position.

4e. In a cluster lamp socket, a casing having lamp-receiving openings, a base within said casing, threaded shells corresponding to said openings, means carried by said base for supporting said shells and conducting current thereto, said means having a recess extending continuously around said base for the reception of the threaded shells, whereby a threaded shell may be supported at any point around said base.

In a cluster lamp socket, a casing having lamp receiving openings, a base within said casing, threaded shells corresponding with said openings and provided with supporting projections, means carried by said base for supporting said shells and conducting current thereto, said means having a recess extending continuously around said base for the reception of the supporting projections of said shells, whereby a threaded shell may be supported at any point around said base.

G. In a plural lamp holding device an insulating base, means carried by said base for conducting current to the center terminals of a plurality of lamps, threaded shells, and a plate secured to the base and formed with an annular groove tor receiving portions oit said shells, whereby the latter are locked in a coperating relation with said current conducting means.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN.

lVitnesses M. L. Fnnnan, CHARLES Ii. IIoriiiNs. 

